The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has scheduled two public meetings on the Draft South Coast Resource Management Plan (RMP) which was released for public review and comment on September 23, 2011.

The BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office will hold public meetings on November 29th at the Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve, 14715 State Hwy 94 (Campo Road), Jamul, 91935 and on November 30th at the Mary Phillips Senior Center, 41845 6th Street, Old Town Temecula, 92590. Meetings will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The meetings will be conducted in “open house” format with a presentation on the alternatives presented in the Draft RMP and the opportunity for the public to view maps and other sections of the Draft RMP. Copies of the Draft RMP will be available along with the opportunity to ask managers and planning specialists questions about the alternatives. All comments must be in writing and submitted prior to the close of the 90 day comment period on December 21, 2011.

The Draft South Coast Resource Management Plan (RMP) Revision and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will provide guidance for the management of approximately 300,000 acres of BLM administered public lands in portions of five highly urbanized Southern California counties: San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles. The existing South Coast RMP was completed and signed in 1994. Since that time there have been significant changes in the patterns of urban growth, increased demands on the resources on public lands, changing policies and emphasis on the management of public lands and local land use planning, and new data that has led to the listing of additional threatened or endangered species.

The public is invited to submit comments on the Draft RMP/EIS prior to December 21, 2011, by email to: capsscrmp@ca.blm.gov or by mail to: BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262.

“We look forward to the opportunity to engage in a dialogue with the public on how to manage our public lands for years to come,” BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Manager John Kalish said. “When completed, the RMP will provide broad guidance for management of this planning area for the next 20 years.”

Copies of the Draft South Coast RMP Revision and Draft EIS are available for review at the Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, address above; the California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553; and at the California State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825, and via the Internet at www.blm.gov/ca/palmsprings. Electronic (on CD-ROM) or paper copies and further information may also be obtained by contacting Greg Hill, BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262; (760) 833-7140; or Greg_Hill@blm.gov.